The Great Central Railway

The present day Great Central Railway is a unique heritage railway located in the university town of Loughborough in the East Midlands of England between the cities of Leicester and Nottingham.

It is on the route of the old Great Central Railway that linked the cities of Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham and Leicester with London at its terminus station at Marylebone.

The preserved railway is predominently steam operated and has a double track section which allows passengers to experience the thrill of trains passing at speed. In this respect it is unique in the preservation world.

But the GCR is more than just a tourist line. Its double track allows for commercial testing of railway vehicles at speeds of up to 75 mph for diesel hauled trains and 60 mph for steam hauled trains.